Abrams, a psychologist with a medical background in human sexuality, teaches two day sex education workshops at Alabama School of Fine Arts and Altamont High School in Birmingham. His instruction teaches safe sex as well as condom and contraceptive use.

Dr. Keith Abrams

It is contrary to state law, which encourages teachers to urge their students to wait until marriage to have his sex.

Here are some of the highlights from the conversation:

Not The Terminator asked how parents can prepare their teenagers who might see Internet pornography.

Keith Abrams responded:

"I talk a lot about pornography when I talk to students. One reason is that the research clearly shows that a LOT of them, male and female, are looking at or being exposed to pornographic images. I tell my audiences that porn is generally really good at 1 and only 1 thing - and that is to arouse us sexually. Especially with today's technology where anyone can access virtually any type of sexual image/genre that appeals to him/her. However, I stress that I believe that porn is a TERRIBLE source of information about sexuality, incl. body image, sexual functioning, how people relate to each other during sex, and other issues.

The reality is that, for most people, porn is the only other occasion where they have 'seen' other people have sex, so it's hard for many (especially if they're not knowledgeable about sexuality) to realize how distorted many of these images are.

Parents and caregivers would ideally have a long-term dialogue with their kids about sexuality over the years. One general rule is to discuss topics before we thing our kids may experience them. For example, you want to be sure to talk to a daughter about menstruation well before she might experience her first menstrual cycle. So, I encourage you to talk to your kids/students about how porn (like movies, TV, music videos) is largely meant to "entertain" and not inform. Most importantly, arm them with accurate information about body image, sexual functioning, and healthy relationships so they do have a healthy image/idea of what that is."

Keith Abrams explains his "sex-positive" instruction:

"It would take too long to describe everything I teach in a human sexuality class. However, one key principle is the need to be 'sex-positive' in our communication. This does NOT mean I am encouraging kids to be sexual. It does mean that I always recognize the potential that sexuality has for being a source of positive things in our lives - e.g., love, intimacy, pleasure, affection, joy, etc. After all, as I've said before, don't we all want our children to grow up to enjoy their sexuality? (And don't we want that for ourselves?) So, one must ask, 'where are our kids going to receive their information?' Studies have long shown that parents do an inadequate job of this - and these same parents are overwhelmingly in favor of comprehensive sexual health education. So, everyone must realize that 'knowledge is a good thing' and sexuality is no exception."

Dianna Lightfoot on why abstinence is the best option:

"I'm a long time public policy expert and child welfare advocate who works with thousands of physicians and other medical experts nationwide. I note with concern your comment about ...'don't we all want our children to grow to enjoy their sexuality...and don't we want to ourselves?' The answer is overwhelmingly no, most parents don't want their children to be sexually active. Their brains are not developed as ours are to understand long term consequences. Can they and should they enjoy sex? Yes, at the appropriate time and in the appropriate context, the best being marriage. Should they enjoy sex...well, for children/teens, it isn't the healthiest choice. That is a decision that (should) be made with parental guidance. Whether and parents choose to provide explicit sexuality education, and most importantly when, should be their choice, not the schools. And as you know, education alone does not change behavior."

Troy Wins on "sex-positive" sex education:

"This guy's moral compass is spinning. This is straight from the free love sixties, which was itself a disaster. To throw up your hands and say, 'Well, you're not going to stop them, so why not help them do it better?', is completely irresponsible. Young boys are offering 'love' to young girls to get in their pants, and young girls are offering sex to get the love they crave from a father. Divorce and irresponsible fathers are the issue here. The results are abortion or children born in unfortunate circumstances. To simply say, 'Hey, don't forget your condom!' completely discredits the 'education' of this supposed expert."

Keith Abrams on negative sex outcomes in the United States of America:

"The data are very clear. In the USA, where sexual health education is of poor quality and often not required, we have very poor sexual health outcomes (e.g., rates of STIs, teen pregnancy, sexual abuse) compared to other industrialized countries that typically have much better policies concerning sexual health education. As those in Alabama are known to say 'Thank G-d for Mississippi', here the cry is 'Thank G-d for Russia' because that's the only peer country with worse sexual health outcomes."

Keith Abrams on passing out condoms in schools:

"... Even in schools where they literally make condoms widely available (free of charge) IN the school, what happens is that a higher % of kids who were already sexually active now use condoms. There is also NO change in the % of kids who are sexually active."

Keith Abrams on the importance of sexual education:

"I've had a lot of clients in my clinical practice come to me because their marriages are suffering as a result of them growing up so sheltered about sexuality. Just because they're on a honeymoon and 'told' that it's now OK to enjoy their sexuality, many find it very difficult to somehow 'switch gears' and now embrace their sexuality. Doesn't matter when we choose to become sexual, it is always nice to be educated about it."

Keith Abrams on the drawbacks of "sex-negative" sex education:

"As Whoopi Goldberg, the famous comedienne/entertainer once said, 'Kids do it because it feels good!' So, to deny the potential of sexuality to be a "feel good" experience is to lose all credibility with a student audience. To try to present them with a lot of 'sex-negative' messages (e.g., 'don't do it because you'll get pregnant, an STI, ruin your reputation, etc.') is a sure-fire way to lose your credibility and your audience's attention and respect."